Looking for a good kosher Italian option in Central Israel?  Portofino at the Yishpro Center in Modiin deserves a place on your list. It is a family-friendly restaurant and a convenient place to meet if you’re coming from Ra’anana, Tel Aviv, or Jerusalem, making it a useful midpoint for a meal with friends, family, or colleagues. There is ample free parking. The menu combines familiar Italian favorites with more creative dishes, and on my recent visit, several stood out.

We started with the Beetroot Insalata, baked beetroot carpaccio topped with herb vinaigrette, feta, parmesan, walnuts, and green onions. The combination of sweet beetroot, salty cheese, and crunchy walnuts created a lovely balance of flavors and textures. The stone-oven Focaccia, served with garlic confit and a tomato dip, was simple but very enjoyable – the kind of warm, comforting dish that’s perfect for sharing.

The Caesar Cauliflower was one of my favorite starters and one of the more interesting dishes of the meal. Lightly coated and fried, the cauliflower was topped with Caesar dressing and parmesan, creating a great contrast between the crispy cauliflower and creamy dressing.

The Arancini da Messina were another highlight. Made with pesto risotto and mozzarella, the risotto balls had a fantastic crispy breadcrumb coating and were served with a rose sauce and parmesan. I particularly loved the pesto flavor running through the creamy risotto.

I was also impressed by the Sweet Potato Salad, which was much more interesting than the typical version found on many menus. The salad combined chunks of soft roasted sweet potato with crispy sweet potato chips, creating a great contrast of textures in every bite.

From the main courses, the Sea Bream on Gnocchi was my favorite. The beautifully seared sea bream was served with soft gnocchi, lemon, parsley, and parmesan. The lemon sauce provided the perfect balance for the dish and made it something I would happily order again.

The Mascarpone and Sun-Dried Tomato Agnolotti had great flavor and a delicious tomato-and-cream sauce. The pasta was more like giant ravioli than traditional agnolotti, but the dish itself was very good, and the sauce wasn’t overly heavy.

The Zucchini Pizza had a lovely base, topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, zucchini, red onion, basil, and parmesan. The toppings worked well together, making it a lighter but still flavourful choice.

And then came dessert.

The Portofino Paris – chocolate ganache, chocolate and nut crunch, raspberry-miso creme brûlée and Amarena cherries – was incredibly decadent. In fact, it may be one of the most decadent desserts I’ve ever had, and I loved every bite.

My Favorites

If you’re visiting Portofino Modiin, my top picks from this meal would be Arancini da Messina to start, Sea Bream on Gnocchi for the main course, and Portofino Paris for dessert.

Overall, Portofino is a good option for kosher Italian dining in Modiin, particularly if you want a menu that goes beyond the standard pizza and pasta.

Portofino (Kosher), HaMelahot Blvd 122, Modi’in, 08-6424424

Follow Debbest on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on the Foodie Israel scene.

Check out my recent New Restaurants in Israel – Summer 2026, and here are some other restaurant reviews.

This content should not be copied without permission or full credit. ©Debbest Israel.